Physical activity intensity and subjective well-being in healthy adults. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Panza, Gregory A; Taylor, Beth A; Thompson, Paul D; White, C Michael; Pescatello, Linda S
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 24:Number 9(2019)
• Page Start: 1257
• Page End: 1267
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: depression -- exercise -- exercise behavior -- physical activity -- well-being; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105317691589
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

The effect of physical activity intensity on subjective well-being has not been well established. We examined this relationship among 419 healthy adults using objective and subjective physical activity measurements (sample size varied among well-being assessments). For accelerometers, light-intensity physical activity positively associated with psychological well-being ( n = 150) and negatively associated with depression ( n = 99); moderate intensity negatively associated with pain severity ( n = 419) and positively associated with psychological well-being; sedentary behavior negatively associated with psychological well-being and positively associated with depression ( p s < .05). These findings were generally consistent with subjective measurements of physical activity (Question 8, Paffenbarger Questionnaire). Higher levels of sedentary behavior are associated with lower subjective well-being.